Cops praise crackdown

A CRIME-BUSTING clampdown has led to a drop in anti-social behaviour and serious crime across north Derbyshire, according to police.

Operation Rocky – which ran throughout November – aimed to tackle yobbish behaviour and serious offences like burglary and car crime.

During this time, those incidents dropped by 21 per cent while anti-social behaviour fell by three per cent across Chesterfield, Bolsover, NE Derbyshire and Amber Valley.

Ch Insp Graham McLaughlin, who led the clampdown, said: “I’m very pleased to see that fewer people have been affected by these types of crime as a result of this operation.

“Officers have been working hard with local residents to identify offenders, bringing them to justice.

“We could not do our work without our local communities,” he added.

As part of Operation Rocky, police carried out a number of initiatives which were reported in the Derbyshire Times.

Officers and an inquisitive pooch – specially trained to detect drugs on people – took to Chesterfield’s busy town centre one Friday night and carried out several checks in a bid to tackle drug possession and dealing.

A number of revellers were searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act during the evening of action.

In another operation, police lured in and arrested several suspects after they sent out letters offering free alcohol.

Report crime by phoning police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

l Do you feel safer as a result of Operation Rocky? Let us know at comment@derbyshiretimes.co.uk.